Chrome browser (desktop application)

How Chrome works with a Google Account: When Chrome is signed into with a Google Account, Google apps are automatically signed into (such as Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Photos, Maps, Search) and any passwords used to sign into website accounts are saved to the Google Account. See Google Account intro in the Web and Internet knowledge area

Chrome basic use: Toolbar – buttons from top left, ‘Page back’ (click to go back, hold to see history), ‘page forward’ (click to go forward, hold to see history), ‘reload this page’ then address bar (for URL) with ‘view site information’ security padlock plus extension icons and profile icon (see when signed into Chrome with Google Account). Add the Bookmarks bar below (Ctrl + Shift + B)

Make Chrome your own: Open a new Tab and click on the ‘Customise Chrome’ button in bottom right to choose a theme colour and show shortcuts. Next click on ‘Customise and control Google Chrome’ options menu top right ❯ Settings ❯ ‘On start-up’, Appearance’, ‘Search engine’ and work through options to suit (e.g. Appearance – side panel is for Bookmarks and is useful on the right. On Start-up can be ‘Open a specific set of pages’). Click ‘Default browser’ to ‘Make default’ (to change back e.g. to Edge open Windows Settings ❯ Apps ❯ Default apps search Edge and set as default)

Chrome advanced use: Click on the profile icon in the top right corner and explore the three icons: ‘Passwords’, ‘Payment methods’ and ‘Addresses and more’ (you do not need to be signed into Chrome to save passwords, credit cards and addresses but it is useful). Open Chrome’s options menu ‘Customise and control Google Chrome’ and get to know ‘Incognito window’, ‘History’, ‘Bookmarks’, ‘Print’, ‘Find’ and more…

Bookmarks – add and manage in Chrome: Quickly add a new bookmark by clicking the star at the end of the address bar, give the website a name and folder to put it in then click ‘Done’. Manage bookmarks in ‘Customise and control Google Chrome’ ❯ ‘Bookmarks’ ❯ ‘Bookmark manager’ and work through

Passwords – Google Password Manager: Store and retrieve safely in ‘Settings’ ❯ ‘Auto-fill’ ❯ ‘Passwords’. Or click the profile icon ❯ Passwords key icon

Print in Chrome: To open the print window, either use the Print shortcut ‘Ctrl + P’ or open Chrome’s options menu top right – ‘Settings and more’ and click on ‘Print’. From here select the ‘destination’ (your printer or save as PDF), which pages, number of copies, layout and colour or black and white. For more options click. Click ‘more settings’ to access the ‘print using system dialogue’ box and more

Chrome extensions: simple tools that put useful features onto your browser. e.g. Norton Safe Web that helps defend you from identity theft and online scams by warning you of dangerous sites while you search, shop, or browse online also save money with ‘Keepa – Amazon Price Tracker’. (Extensions can be deleted if they are not used)

Chrome sign in and sync: Click on the profile icon in the top right corner of the Chrome browser and sign in to your Google Account and turn on sync. This saves any info stored in Chrome to your account or adds your stored info to Chrome, so if you sign into a different computer, you will get your synced info

Manage sync in Chrome: Click on the profile icon top right, then click ‘Sync is on’ and review ‘Sync and Google services’ ❯ ‘Manage what you sync’ and select what you want to sync. Click ‘Review your synced data’ to see how many bookmarks, passwords etc. are stored. NOTE in ‘Other Google services’ on this page – Turn on ‘Allow Chrome sign-in’. If ON Chrome will automatically sign you into Google sites such as Gmail or Google Photos

Privacy in Chrome: Clear cookies – Open ‘Settings’ from ‘Customise and control Google Chrome’ options menu. ‘Settings’ ❯ ‘Privacy and Security’ ❯ ‘Clear browsing data’ ❯ ‘Cookies and other site data’